Continuous nationwide atmospheric PCDD/F monitoring network in Taiwan (2006–2016): Variation in concentrations and apportionment of emission sources

Ngo, Tuan Hung; Wang, Jen Ren; Chen, Yu‐Cheng; Pan, Wen Chi; Hsien, Kai

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126979

Cited by 19 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The corresponding TEQ concentrations across households were 1.9- to 13.3-fold higher than that in ambient air (41 ± 15 fg I-TEQ/m 3 ), with ambient PCDD/Fs levels being in the same order of magnitude to those reported in previous studies (Table S6). − The results suggest that household biomass combustion can induce extremely high levels of PCDD/Fs in rural households particularly in kitchens, which may induce adverse impacts on household residents.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Extreme Exposure Levels of PCDD/Fs Inhaled from Biomass Burning Activity for Cooking in Typical Rural Households

et al. 2021

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/ Fs), emitted during biomass combustion, are carcinogenic chemicals. The association between indoor biomass burning and PCDD/Fs inhalation exposure levels is still poorly understood. This study first reports direct measurement of personal exposure to PCDD/Fs in real-world households with wood combustion. In homes where biomass burning is used for cooking, toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) PCDD/Fs concentrations were found to be 545 ± 251 fg I-TEQ/m 3 in kitchens, with levels of 4.5-, 6.9-, and 13.3-fold higher than those in living rooms (122 ± 92 fg I-TEQ/m 3 ), bedrooms (79 ± 27 fg I-TEQ/ m 3 ), and ambient air (41 ± 15 fg I-TEQ/m 3 ), respectively. PCDD/Fs exposure levels in populations using biomass fuels for cooking (353 ± 110 fg I-TEQ/ m 3 ) were 4.3-fold higher than those in the control groups (82 ± 32 fg I-TEQ/ m 3 ). Additionally, the average cancer risks for biomass cooking person were approximately 3.1-fold higher than those in factory workers. Overall, residents of household that use biomass fuels for cooking have the highest known risk of PCDD/Fs exposure. These results highlight that aiming to mitigate the PCDD/Fs exposure risk in the general population, the focus of dioxin emission source control measures should shift from industrial sectors to residential biomass combustion.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Extreme Exposure Levels of PCDD/Fs Inhaled from Biomass Burning Activity for Cooking in Typical Rural Households

et al. 2021

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…By contrast, PCDDs and PCDFs exist solely as unwanted by-products of other industrial processes (e.g., paint manufacturing, foundries and steel mill, waste incineration). Despite PCBs and PCDD/Fs have been banned since long time, both groups continue to affect the environment today again (Ngo et al 2020 ). Industrial syntheses of PCBs lead to blends characterized by various average chlorine percentages, which sometimes could aid in highlighting the impact of sources suspected as causing environmental pollution.…”

Section: The State-of-the-art Of Research About Molecular Signatures ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A variety of fingerprints tags the emission sources; for instance, distinct PCDD/Fs patterns have observed for vehicle exhausts, sewage sludge, and steel mill fumes (Mininni et al 2004 ; Liu et al 2015 ). Besides that, the molecular fingerprints of PCBs and PCDD/Fs change with time owing to ability of congeners to persist to degradation as well as to dissolve in waters and lipids (Di Guardo et al 2017 ; Ngo et al 2018 , 2020 ). Finally, looking to bioavailability of organic halides, we must take in account that these substances are semi-volatile.…”

Section: The State-of-the-art Of Research About Molecular Signatures ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular signatures of organic particulates as tracers of emission sources

Cecinato

Bacaloni

Romagnoli

et al. 2022

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Chemical signature of airborne particulates and deposition dusts is subject of study since decades. Usually, three complementary composition markers are investigated, namely, (i) specific organic compounds; (ii) concentration ratios between congeners, and (iii) percent distributions of homologs. Due to its intrinsic limits (e.g., variability depending on decomposition and gas/particle equilibrium), the identification of pollution sources based on molecular signatures results overall restricted to qualitative purposes. Nevertheless, chemical fingerprints allow drawing preliminary information, suitable for successfully approaching multivariate analysis and valuing the relative importance of sources. Here, the state-of-the-art is presented about the molecular fingerprints of non-polar aliphatic, polyaromatic (PAHs, nitro-PAHs), and polar (fatty acids, organic halides, polysaccharides) compounds in emissions. Special concern was addressed to alkenes and alkanes with carbon numbers ranging from 12 to 23 and ≥ 24, which displayed distinct relative abundances in petrol-derived spills and exhausts, emissions from microorganisms, high vegetation, and sediments. Long-chain alkanes associated with tobacco smoke were characterized by a peculiar iso/anteiso/normal homolog fingerprint and by n-hentriacontane percentages higher than elsewhere. Several concentration ratios of PAHs were identified as diagnostic of the type of emission, and the sources of uncertainty were elucidated. Despite extensive investigations conducted so far, the origin of uncommon molecular fingerprints, e.g., alkane/alkene relationships in deposition dusts and airborne particles, remains quite unclear. Polar organics resulted scarcely investigated for pollution apportioning purposes, though they looked as indicative of the nature of sources. Finally, the role of humans and living organisms as actual emitters of chemicals seems to need concern in the future.

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“…These compounds have a certain structural correlation and a common mechanism of action (Van den Berg et al, 1998), because PCDD/Fs are lipophilic compounds that are difficult to degrade in nature. In addition, if humans are exposed to high concentrations of PCDD/Fs or consume contaminated food for a long time, it is likely to lead to impaired internal organ function, reduced perception, skin surface damage, and growth retardation (Chen et al, 2006;Hu et al, 2009;Ssebugere et al, 2019;Ngo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Precipitation on the Air Quality Index, PM2.5 Levels and on the Dry Deposition of PCDD/Fs in the Ambient Air

Wang¹,

Cui²,

Sheu³

et al. 2023

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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The effects of 9 precipitation events in Suzhou City in Anhui Province, China, on the air quality index (AQI), PM2.5, and dry deposition flux of PCDD/Fs (polydibenzo-p-dioxins and polydibenzofurans) were investigated. A total of 7 precipitation events were positive contributes to the reduction of AQI; among them, the AQI were between 23 and 216, with an average of 75, the PM2.5 concentrations were between 5.0 and 169 µg m -3 , with an average of 25 µg m -3 , while the total-PCDD/F-TEQ dry deposition flux ranged from 149 to 1034 pg WHO2005-TEQ m -2 day -1 and averaged 315 pg WHO2005-TEQ m -2 day -1 . By comparing the average AQI and PM2.5, respectively, during and after rainfall with that before rainfall, the results indicated that the average reduction fractions of AQI were 26% and 44%, respectively, while those of PM2.5 were 58% and 43%. In addition, the effect of precipitation on the average reduction fraction of total PCDD/F-TEQ dry deposition flux was 31%. However, in the other 2 AQI elevation events, the AQI were between 23 and 100, and averaged 51; when comparing the average AQI and PM2.5 concentrations, during and after the rain with that before the rain, the increases in AQI were 42% and 49%, respectively, while the increases in PM2.5 concentration were 26% and 29%, respectively. The above results show that, on the whole, rain and snow improved the air quality. This is because rainwater removes particles or dissolved gaseous pollutants from the atmosphere and brings aerosols to the ground. However, in some cases, the increase of source emissions and atmospheric vertical convection, the effect of precipitation or air humidity increased the AQI and elevated the concentration of PM2.5, and dry deposition flux of PCDD/Fs. The results of this study provide useful information for both scientific communities and air quality management.

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Continuous nationwide atmospheric PCDD/F monitoring network in Taiwan (2006–2016): Variation in concentrations and apportionment of emission sources

Cited by 19 publications

References 41 publications

Extreme Exposure Levels of PCDD/Fs Inhaled from Biomass Burning Activity for Cooking in Typical Rural Households

Extreme Exposure Levels of PCDD/Fs Inhaled from Biomass Burning Activity for Cooking in Typical Rural Households

Molecular signatures of organic particulates as tracers of emission sources

Effects of Precipitation on the Air Quality Index, PM2.5 Levels and on the Dry Deposition of PCDD/Fs in the Ambient Air

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